Chicken Pox Vaccine??

[Stephen's Mom]

Not to stir up the pot about chicken pox again, but I was wondering what people's opinions are on getting your child vaccinated against chicken pox. I've been trying to decide what to do (I'm always up to date on all required vaccinations) but my family doctor said she didn't recommend it yet the pediatrician said he did. I've done a fair bit of research on it but of course you can find so much info for and against it that I don't know what to think sometimes. It's fairly new where I'm from and I can't find anyone who has actually used it yet. Just wanted some advice...

Thanks,

Kim

 

[Mermaid02]

Why did your family doc not recommend it? My son had the vaccine- the pediatrician recommended he have it so I went with that.

 

[Blondie]

Both of my boys have had the chicken pox vaccine, and they've been exposed several times, and have not gotten it.

I think the jury is still out as far as how long the immunity will last....sometime in the future they might need a chicken pox vaccine booster...time will tell.

In VA, it's one of the "must have vaccines" in order for your child to enter kindergarten.

 

[glo]

We had the choice to have the twins vaccinated or not. It was an option, but I had them vaccinated. I figured it could not hurt and if it could spare them the Chicken Pox why not. I have no regrets, my oldest had to go through it, and it was so hard on her, and it was such a bad case.

 

[tiggerlover]

I also chose to have my son vaccinated on the peds recommendation. It is also mandatory for children entering kindergarten, both in Connecticut and in the Department of Defense school systems.

I have heard that a booster shot may be needed down the road also.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Our Ped finally changed her stance and started recommending it about 4 years ago. I also knew 2 children who had life threatening complications from CP. It is now required to enter school here. That will make it really more difficult to catch it anyway. Japan used this shot for 20 years BEFORE we started it here(I beleive, correct me if I am wrong ) We can learn from them about a booster. I really am relieved that I got this for my children. Chicken pox is no picnic!

 

[llp479]

I had all three of my dds vacicnated. I'm glad I did it, because IL just started to require it this year, and parents are scrambling to get their kids the shot.

They can do a simple blood test to check for antibodies to see if a booster is needed. I had the test when I was pregnant because to my knowledge, and my mom's, I never had CP. My results showed I was "highly immune". Go figure!

 

[Stephen's Mom]

I'm not sure why my family doctor didn't recommend it. I think she mentioned something about not knowing how long the immunity would last and that it would be better for my son to get chicken pox when he was young rather than as an adult. I think I will probably go ahead and have it done. Only thing that is a pain is that the pediatrician doesn't give the vaccine so I have to go to another one that does and also have to special order the vaccine from the pharmacy because they do not stock it. I'm unsure why it's not mandatory here (I'm not sure if this is Canada in general or if it varies by province). It's still not covered by our provincial health plan yet either, not that it matters as it's only $75 but I guess I'd feel better if it was a "required" vaccine here. I don't know why, but I always wonder if there is a reason that it's not required yet or if it is all just a matter of government red tape etc.

 

[piratesmate]

As BibbidiBobbidiBoo experienced, a number of doctor's changed their stance in recent years. My pediatrician did NOT want us to have DS vaccinated (he's now 21) when he was younger. At that time, he said the studies were showing that people who had the vaccine were more likely to have shingles later than those who had actual chicken pox.

I assume that newer studies have disproved that. We have found that the family doctors are not as up-to-date as pediatricans on things pertaining to children. Perhaps that is the reason your doctors have differing opinions???

Is Dr Deb around to give you advice?

d

PS It is much better when they get them younger. DS finally got them when he was 13 & DD was 3. He was miserable!

 

[allicat]

Im glad I had DD vaccinated before entering kindergarten. At the end of the school year, there was a huge outbreak of chicken pox. The kids who werent vaccinated all got them horribly. A few kids who had the vaccine, got a pock here or there but were not ill in any way. DD was fine.
I had them at 19 and was extremely ill. I could not get out of bed and still have marks on my face!
The vaccine is safe, gettingchicken pox makes kids feel miserable, so Im pleased we vaccinated DD.

 

[debknight]

Our pediatrician recommends the vaccine because she has seen two children die from the chicken pox. My daughter got the vaccine, but later that year came down with a very mild case of chicken pox. Her Dr. said she would now be immune for life.

 

[pokiemomo181]

My grand-daughters had the vaccine. The oldest was exposed at school. She got them, but had a total of 10 pox on her and was never sick from them at all. The 3 y/o had 2 pox on her and was also not sick. I am glad we insisted on the vaccine. I can still remember how sick I was from then as a kid!

Pokie

 

[helenabear]

I never had CP at all and it was decided that it would be best if I got the vaccine at age 21 or so. The doctors didn't do a blood test (not everyone seemed to know to do that then and I admit my doc wasn't the brightest) but I figure in about 5 years or so I'll go get a blood test and see if I need a booster or not. Being an adult, I don't want to risk getting CP now!!

 

[Lanshark]

Both of my kids were got the shots when they first came out several years ago. So did I. I did this because I never had the chicken pox and it is very difficult and sometimes dangerous for adults.
None of us had any adverse effects.

 

[faith]

When our daughter was young she got the chickenpox, our son never did. He was exposed many times. Now grown and with kids of his own their pediatrician recommended the grandkids get the vaccine, and our grown son along with them. Chickenpox for adults is very unpleasant also. They say it is safe in most cases and a booster will probably be necessary 10 years after the original. Good luck with your decision.

 

[msdznyduck]

My ds got CP when he was 16 mos old. They didn't seem to bother him too much.. but then he didn't have a very severe case. I was 5 mos. pregnant with dd and My ob/gyn said that as long as I had them when younger, nothing to worry about. We were planning a trip to WDW when dd was 6 yrs oldand had been ex[psed to CP many times at preschool, Sunday school, etc, and the last time was 1 mo before our trip. I swore that if she made it through that time I would get her vaccinated. I asked the kids Dr what he thought about the vaccination, and he said that he had vaccinated his own kids and felt very comfortable doing that. That made up my mind, DD is now 12 and had not had any side effects at all from it. (even though it is only 6 yrs, both my Dr and I don't forsee any problems at all)
msdzny duck

 

[Pooh93]

It is now part of the vaccinations in Illinois, but I had my dd's vaccinated with it before that happened. I didn't get chickenpox until the age of 28 and it was horrible! I know it's much harder on adults, but if I could spare my girls that itchy, misery I would.

 

[iluvorlando]

We got a letter sent home from school requiring the shot. Well, our family care doctor didn't have it (they don't have a lot of children), so I had to go to the health department to have it done. That place was packed!! Neither dd has been exposed, but both have had the shot now. Hopefully, they won't ever get it.

 

[KimRaye]

When DD was 1, her ped. recommended it and, since DS, then-11yo, had never gotten CP, I decided to have him vaccinated also. Would've been much worse for him to get them the older he got.

And, Pooh93 is correct. It's now required for entering school. Even Pre-K, in DD's case. I believe it's a new requirement, just now started.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

My DS got the chicken pox vaccine when he entered 2nd grade at my Peditrician's advice.

My DD came down with chicken pox when she was 4, DS at the time was 1 . . .he didn't get them . . .he was exposed several time at nursery school as well as Kindegarten and 1st Grade, but he never got them. So I decided to get him the vaccine ONLY because I was the same way growing up . . .I was exposed lots and lots of times, but never got them . . .UNTIL my nephew got them and at that time I was 14! Let me just say that I had them really bad . . .so bad that I had some scarring . . .since I was in Middle School the other kids starting teasing me and calling me "Poc" it was truly horrible.

So hopefully I did the right thing because I just didn't want him to have to go through what I went through.